10 Solargraphy

Solarigrafia, solarigraphy, solargraphy is a photographic method for recording the paths of the Sun. Solargraphy is the art of pinhole photography and a part of Space Art, too.

Solarigraphics or solargraphs are pinhole photographs taken with a lensless pinhole camera with a long exposure. By doing so the invisible movements of the Sun can be made visible in landscapes.

A pinhole camera = a can.

An essential part of this method is the building of your own pinhole camera(s). The cameras that are made out of empty cans / tins or film canisters are very practical. This kind of small black pinhole camera is excellent for the freedom it allows of placing the camera in the open air or in some public places in the city or for sending free pinhole cameras by post.

Materials

- A home made pinhole camera,

- black and white lightsensitive material as photographic paper,

- tapes or wires for fastening,

- a scaner,

- an image processing computer program

1. Choose a bright/sunny place.

Try 3 to five different cameras with different locations and maybe different exposure durations. You can set each can (pinhole camera) into a vertical or horizontal position. If you set it vertically the final image will be panoramic whilst the horizontal position offers the form of a portrait.

Fasten the can very tight facing the Sun so it can´t move in the wind. The key point being that the Sun ´perforates´ the pinhole during the day. The best directions face sunrise or sunset.

Can with a clothes peg.

2. The exposure time starts.

After fastening the pinhole camera take the tiny black tape off from the pinhole. The exposure of the light sensitive material (photographic paper inside the can) begins as soon as the tape is removed.

Possibly the best exposure periods are:

- December 21 (winter solstice) - March 20 (the vernal equinox)

- March 20th - June 21st (the summer solstice)

- June 21st - Sept 23rd (the autumnal equinox)

- Sept 23rd - Dec 22st, (the winter solstice).

  

4. Leave the can exposed to the sky.

The shortest time is one day and the longest half a year. Write the date on the top of the can when you fasten the pinhole. 

5. Stop the exposing by shutting the pinhole before you pick it up.

Don't forget to write this day also.

6. The Assignment.
We are going to build 2 pinhole cameras and set them up in two different places
Camera 1: 7 Days
Camera 2: 14 Days

Then we will scan the images **DO NOT PUT THEM IN THE DEVELOPER**